Prince Harry has spent years slating our Royal Family from afar, but when he needs a PR boost he's suddenly all over King Charles again, writes Chris Riches

King Charles and Prince Harry wearing suits

A son with a need is now the King's friend indeed - Harry now appears to want a royal return (Image: Getty)

It must be wonderful to boast the thick skin of a rhino - you can publicly lay into a loved-one one minute, then shamelessly be his best friend the next.

After Megxit, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not hold back their views on not just the institution behind the Royal Family, but specific relatives themselves such as Prince William, Princess Catherine and Queen Camilla.

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He carefully used the phrase 'wicked stepmother' when discussing Camilla, knowing the label would stick.

He might claim he was merely wondering if Camilla would be cruel to him "like all the wicked stepmothers in storybooks," but we all know what he was hinting at by printing those two words in a sentence about her.

He also accused Camilla of sacrificing him on her PR altar, suggesting her effort to rehabilitate her image came at his expense by briefing the media against him.

He cited one instance when Camilla allegedly leaked one of her early conversations with William. A newspaper later revealed it was, in fact, Camilla’s former assistant who leaked it, and she was then let go.

It gets worse: appearing on CBS's 60 Minutes to millions of viewers in January 2023 to publicise 'Spare,' he said of Camilla, "She was the villain. She was the third person in their marriage. She needed to rehabilitate her image."

But his own father did not avoid Harry's loud and public censure - a profit-making public censure as it turned out, with his 2023 memoir Spare a £20 million-plus bestseller.

He said Charles praised Diana for giving him an heir and a spare; then, when his mother died, Harry claimed Charles woke him to break the news, but did not hug him.

Harry's also suggested his father prioritised media coverage over his own wellbeing.

But now Harry appears to have done a complete 'reverse ferret,' as we say in the media industry. Because now he desperately needs King Charles to do him a favour.

This summer Charles and Camilla were a huge success at the Commonwealth Games, arriving at Glasgow's Hydro for the opening ceremony inside Doctor Who's famous TARDIS.

It has now been reported by sources that "it would mean the world" to Harry for King Charles to be by his side either at the opening or closing ceremony to his Invictus Games when they take place in Birmingham in 2027.

The Duke Of Sussex Attends The Invictus 1 Year To Go Event In Birmingham

The Invictus Games are a huge deal for Prince Harry (Image: Getty)

A source described the event as a "big deal" for the Duke of Sussex, who's determined to make the Birmingham games the best to date - and for that he would dearly love his dad's support.

You have to admit, he's got some gall!

Next, he'll be asking Prince William and Catherine to put on a spread at their home for the athletes using Meghan's jam.

Harry has certainly been trying to mend frayed royal relationships, at least with Charles and Camilla, during his recent return to the UK last month with Meghan, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

The King and Queen and the Sussexes reportedly spent over an hour together at Highgrove House. It must have been a bit awkward, considering what Harry also said about his father to the BBC last year.

In that interview, he hinted that Charles's health was a serious issue, saying: "I would love reconciliation with my family; there's no point in continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has; he won't speak to me."

For King Charles, Harry is the son who keeps giving… headaches, that is.

The Invictus Games in Birmingham takes place on July 10th-17th next year. If I was Charles I would start filling my diary now. "Sorry Harry, I've an awful lot on next July….!"